There is a reason The Beatles' called their song “Drive My Car,” not “Buy My Car.” (For starters, it was 1965, and they were all tooling around on the wrong side of the road in flashy Jaguars and Aston-Martins, still enjoying the new-car smell.)

But selling your vehicle can bring complications that take the pep out of even the most prolific songwriter.

Granted, unloading your car isn't nearly the odious task that buying it was, but some tips can make the process as smooth as possible.

Time your sale

First off, study the local market — and the time of year.

You will want to check online to see what the market is for your model. Check news sites and Craigslist, and search around with Google to get a sense.

As winter approaches, particularly in snowy climes such as ours, sports cars and convertibles generally won't move as fast as they do in the summer. That four-door kid-hauler you have might not have much sex appeal, but it's a workhorse for people needing basic, reliable transportation. Ditto for trucks and vans, whose utility helps them hold their value.

When Denver resident Randy Larson sold his 2004 Ford pickup in the summer, he was afraid the dents and dings from his contracting job would hurt the sales. But he got the $12,700 price he wanted even though the truck had 76,000 miles on it.

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Make a good impression

“I had it washed and waxed and detailed, and made sure to clean out the bed and interior completely,” Larson says. “The guy who bought it took it out for about 10 minutes, got it up to speed, checked the braking on it and made me an offer on the spot.”

Larson made a smart move in getting the truck detailed. Curb appeal is crucial when selling a car.

Remove everything from the trunk, cabin and glove compartment, except for the owner's manual. This will give prospective buyers a sense that they're test-driving their future car, rather than your old one. Dashboards should be dusted, windows cleaned inside and out, and tires glossed up.

“First impressions mean a lot,” says Ron Montoya, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, an online site offering tips on selling your vehicle. “Many people will size up a car in a couple of minutes.”

Consider getting dents and minor flaws fixed, unless the vehicle is a beater that you plan on selling “as is.” (If it's completely trashed and you are worried that you won't be able to sell it in a reasonable amount of time, consider donating it to a charity and taking the tax write-off.)

Topping off your fluids and getting an oil change is also a good idea. Smart buyers will check the dipstick, so you want it to come back gleaming tawny-gold, not gunky black.

Be armed with information

If possible, hang on to your mechanical records. Be upfront about any repairs done on the car, or any major problems that you have encountered. Better yet, have a mechanic's inspection report to hand to the buyer. “You should know what's wrong with your car,” Montoya says. “You don't want to be surprised when the buyer's mechanic finds something that needs repairing.”

Online advertising is the way most people shop for vehicles these days: Cars.com, Autotrader.com, Craigslist.com, eBay classifieds and, yes, Coloradodrives.com all post ads. Twitter and Facebook are also ways of getting the word out that you're in selling mode. And don't underestimate the value of going old-school. Posting a traditional “For Sale” sign in the window, with the year, mileage and your contact info, can still work.

Online advice on selling your car can be had from sources such as Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com. The latter has an appraisal tool that lets you factor in mileage, model, color, option and condition and the like, plus showing regional popularity. (Lincoln Town cars move well in Northeastern cities, pickups are popular in the rural West and South.)

Be prepared for showtime

When you show your vehicle, whether at your house or in a public place like a parking lot, remember that to a certain extent you're selling yourself. Dress neatly. If you look like you take care of yourself, a buyer will have greater confidence that you take care of your car.

Most drivers will want to test-drive a car. Ask to see a driver's license and proof of insurance.

It's good strategy to ask for a bit more money than you are willing to accept. That leaves wiggle room for negotiation. Most prospective buyers try to knock the price down in $500-$1,000 chunks. If you're willing to take $9,000 for the car, ask for $10,500. If a buyer shows up and is ready to cut a check for the asking price, hooray for you. If they negotiate the price downwards, you get fair value and they are happy with their ability to wheel and deal. Win-win.

But be down-to-earth about your asking price. “I think it's important to take a look at the car, see what it's worth and price it realistically,” Montoya says. “We tend to sometimes fall in love with our cars and overvalue them.”

Lastly, ask for a cash payment or a cashier's check.

Happy trails.

Negotiating the deal

If a person likes your vehicle, you should be ready to negotiate on the spot. Here are some tips from edmunds.com, an online adviser on selling cars in private transactions.

“I like the car, but...” The buyer might come outright and say the price is too high. If they utter this line and then go silent, ask them how much they would be willing to pay for the vehicle.

“What's your best price?” That's the direct approach, plus a way of probing how much you, the seller, are willing to move. If you get this question, don't appear too eager to lower the price.

“Would you accept...?” Now you are in negotiation mode. The buyer has mulled the purchase and is making an offer, while giving you room for a counter offer.

“Take it or leave it.” The buyer is playing hardball. This could be a bluff, but it's also an indication that they're close to their bottom-line offer. Want to make sure? Let them leave. They could call the next day with your price or continue negotiating until you come to an agreement.

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